Device for cooking foods with microwaves

Abstract

In order to boil eggs or other foods not suitable for cooking with direct microwave radiation, a receptacle containing such foods is separated from a microwave source by a radiation shield overlain by a heating vessel partly filled with water which is exposed to the microwaves. This vaporizes the water and the resulting steam is admitted through one or more tubes into the receptacle for a rapid heating of its contents. The shield may reflect the incident microwaves into the water bath.

We claim: 
     
       1. A device usable with a cooking stove equipped with a microwave source for rapidly boiling foods not suitable for cooking with direct microwave radiation, comprising: a vessel positioned for irradiation by microwaves from said source, said vessel forming a vapor space above an area reserved for a quantity of water to be vaporized by said microwaves;   a receptacle underneath said vessel provided with conduit means communicating with said vapor space for admitting evolving steam to foods disposed in said receptacle; and   a radiation shield interposed between said receptacle and said vessel for protecting the contents of said receptacle from said microwaves.   
     
     
       2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said radiation shield forms a removable cover for said receptacle. 
     
     
       3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said radiation shield is provided with a microwave-reflecting layer, said vessel having a microwave-permeable bottom closely overlying said radiation shield for penetration by the reflected microwaves. 
     
     
       4. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said receptacle is provided with wire netting for supporting the foods to be boiled with all-around accessibility to the evolving steam. 
     
     
       5. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said receptacle has an outlet enabling the escape of excess steam into the surronding atmosphere. 
     
     
       6. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said radiation shield is provided with a microwave-reflecting layer, said vessel having a microwave-permeable bottom closely overlying said radiation shield for penetration by the reflected microwaves. 
     
     
       7. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said receptacle is provided with wire netting for supporting the foods to be boiled with all-around accessibility to the evolving steam. 
     
     
       8. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said receptacle has an outlet enabling the escape of excess steam into the surrounding atmosphere.